Channel 4 may not have as many must watch dramas as BBC iPlayer, ITVX or Sky Atlantic, but there are still a handful of award winning series you should add to your watchlist. I personally recommend The West Wing, Derry Girls and Bones. From the 362 dramas available to watch on Channel 4, I’ve narrowed the list down to 59 which scored 7 or higher on IMDb.
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The West Wing (1999–2006) – IMDb 8.9
Created by Aaron Sorkin, this Emmy-winning political drama stars Martin Sheen as President Bartlet and follows his White House staff through policy crises, personal struggles, and idealistic governance.
It’s a Sin (2021) – IMDb 8.6
Russell T Davies’ BAFTA-winning miniseries tracks a group of friends in 1980s London as the AIDS crisis unfolds, with breakout performances from Olly Alexander and Lydia West.
This Is Us (2016–2022) – IMDb 8.6
Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Milo Ventimiglia anchor this Emmy-winning family drama that weaves past and present into a heartfelt exploration of identity, grief, and connection.
Samurai Jack (2001–2017) – IMDb 8.5
Genndy Tartakovsky’s stylised animated epic follows a time-displaced samurai battling the evil Aku across surreal landscapes, blending action, silence, and visual poetry.
Boston Legal (2004–2008) – IMDb 8.4
James Spader and William Shatner star in David E. Kelley’s legal dramedy about eccentric lawyers tackling controversial cases with wit, irreverence, and Emmy-winning flair.
My Mad Fat Diary (2013–2015) – IMDb 8.4
Sharon Rooney stars as a teenager navigating mental health, friendship, and body image in 90s Lincolnshire, adapted from Rae Earl’s memoir with raw honesty and humour.
This Is England 86/88/90 (2010–2015) – IMDb 8.4
Shane Meadows’ gritty follow-up to his film explores post-Thatcher youth culture through the lives of working-class friends, with Vicky McClure and Joe Gilgun delivering standout performances.
Derry Girls (2018–2022) – IMDb 8.4
Lisa McGee’s BAFTA-nominated comedy-drama follows five teens growing up in 90s Northern Ireland during the Troubles, blending political backdrop with coming-of-age chaos.
Person of Interest (2011–2016) – IMDb 8.4
Created by Jonathan Nolan, this high-concept thriller stars Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson as a vigilante duo using AI to prevent crimes before they happen.
Homeland (2011–2020) – IMDb 8.3
Claire Danes and Damian Lewis star in this Emmy-winning espionage thriller about CIA surveillance, psychological warfare, and shifting loyalties in the post-9/11 era.
The Killing (US, 2011–2014) – IMDb 8.3
Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman lead this moody Seattle-set crime drama, adapted from the Danish original, with slow-burn tension and layered character arcs.
Hill Street Blues (1981–1987) – IMDb 8.3
Steven Bochco’s groundbreaking police drama introduced ensemble storytelling and gritty realism to network TV, winning multiple Emmys and redefining the genre.
Deutschland 83 / 86 / 89 (2015–2020) – IMDb 8.2
This Cold War trilogy follows an East German spy infiltrating the West, blending period detail, political tension, and synth-driven style across three acclaimed seasons.
Skins (2007–2013) – IMDb 8.2
This edgy teen drama launched careers for Dev Patel, Nicholas Hoult, and Kaya Scodelario, portraying adolescence with raw emotion, rotating casts, and cultural impact.
The Great (2020– ) – IMDb 8.2
Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult star in this irreverent, Emmy-nominated satire about Catherine the Great’s rise to power, blending historical fiction with dark comedy.
The Virtues (2019) – IMDb 8.2
Stephen Graham delivers a devastating performance in Shane Meadows’ BAFTA-winning drama about trauma, redemption, and confronting the past.
GBH (1991) – IMDb 8.1
Alan Bleasdale’s political thriller stars Robert Lindsay and Michael Palin in a darkly comic tale of mental breakdown, corruption, and ideological warfare.
How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020) – IMDb 8.1
Viola Davis won an Emmy for her role as a brilliant, morally ambiguous law professor entangled in murder plots and courtroom drama.
Shameless (UK, 2004–2013) – IMDb 8.1
David Threlfall stars as Frank Gallagher in this Manchester-set dramedy about a dysfunctional working-class family, blending grit, humour, and social commentary.
The Tudors (2007–2010) – IMDb 8.1
Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a seductive, volatile Henry VIII in this lavish historical drama, with Natalie Dormer and Sam Neill adding intrigue and ambition.
Frasier (1993–2004) – IMDb 8.1
Kelsey Grammer’s spin-off from Cheers became a multi-Emmy-winning sitcom about a pompous radio psychiatrist, his working-class father, and their clashing worldviews.
Misfits (2009–2013) – IMDb 8.0
This BAFTA-winning sci-fi drama follows a group of young offenders who gain superpowers after a freak storm, with breakout roles for Iwan Rheon and Robert Sheehan.
Queer as Folk (UK, 1999–2000) – IMDb 8.0
Russell T Davies’ groundbreaking drama follows three gay men in Manchester, blending sex, friendship, and cultural revolution with unapologetic energy.
Somewhere Boy (2022– ) – IMDb 8.0
Lewis Gribben stars as a teenager raised in isolation who enters the real world after tragedy, in this BAFTA-nominated psychological drama about grief and discovery.
Jonathan Creek (1997–2016) – IMDb 8.0
Alan Davies plays a magician’s assistant turned amateur sleuth solving locked-room mysteries, with guest stars like Caroline Quentin and Sheridan Smith across its BAFTA-winning run.
Derek (2012–2014) – IMDb 7.9
Ricky Gervais stars as a kind-hearted care home worker in this bittersweet dramedy about compassion, ageing, and social invisibility.
The Blacklist (2013–2024) – IMDb 7.9
James Spader plays criminal mastermind Raymond Reddington in this long-running thriller about FBI conspiracies, secret agendas, and shifting alliances.
The Good Doctor (2017– ) – IMDb 7.9
Freddie Highmore stars as a young autistic surgeon navigating hospital politics and personal growth in this US adaptation of a Korean drama.
Traffik (1989) – IMDb 7.9
This BAFTA-winning miniseries traces the global heroin trade from Pakistan to Europe, later inspiring Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic.
Friday Night Dinner (2011–2020) – IMDb 7.9
Simon Bird, Tom Rosenthal, and Tamsin Greig star in this family sitcom about chaotic Jewish Friday dinners, with Paul Ritter’s performance earning posthumous acclaim.
Humans (2015–2018) – IMDb 7.8
Gemma Chan and Katherine Parkinson star in this Channel 4 sci-fi drama about synthetic humans and the ethical dilemmas of artificial consciousness.
Bones (2005–2017) – IMDb 7.8
Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz lead this forensic procedural about a brilliant anthropologist and her FBI partner solving crimes through skeletal evidence and romantic tension.
Fresh Meat (2011–2016) – IMDb 7.7
Created by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, this university-set dramedy follows six mismatched students navigating friendship, failure, and identity in Manchester.
Little Fires Everywhere (2020) – IMDb 7.7
Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington star in this suburban mystery about motherhood, race, and privilege, adapted from Celeste Ng’s bestselling novel.
National Treasure (2016) – IMDb 7.7
Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters deliver powerhouse performances in this BAFTA-winning drama about a beloved comedian accused of historic sexual assault.
No Offence (2015–2018) – IMDb 7.7
Joanna Scanlan leads a team of Manchester detectives in this Paul Abbott-created police procedural that blends dark humour with social grit.
Deadwater Fell (2020) – IMDb 7.7
David Tennant stars in this psychological thriller about a family tragedy that unravels secrets, suspicion, and small-town facades.
North Square (2000) – IMDb 7.7
Phil Davis and Rupert Penry-Jones star in this cult legal drama set in a Leeds barristers’ chambers, mixing ambition, ethics, and courtroom tension.
Unicorn: Warriors Eternal (2023– ) – IMDb 7.6
Genndy Tartakovsky’s animated fantasy follows reincarnated heroes battling ancient evil, blending steampunk aesthetics with mythic storytelling.
Elizabeth I (2005) – IMDb 7.5
Helen Mirren won an Emmy and a BAFTA for her portrayal of the Virgin Queen in this lavish miniseries about power, love, and legacy.
Hierro (2019–2022) – IMDb 7.5
This Spanish crime drama stars Candela Peña as a judge investigating murder on a remote Canary Island, blending atmospheric tension with moral ambiguity.
Dreamers (2023) – IMDb 7.4
Dreamers follows a group of aspiring dance students chasing ambition, identity, and connection through movement, mentorship, and the pressures of performance.
Crazyhead (2016) – IMDb 7.3
Susan Wokoma and Cara Theobold star in this supernatural comedy-drama about two women battling demons — literal and emotional — with irreverent humour and cult energy.
Teachers (UK, 2001–2004) – IMDb 7.3
Andrew Lincoln leads this Channel 4 dramedy about disillusioned staff at a secondary school, mixing surreal cutaways with Gen X angst and staffroom chaos.
Ultraviolet (1998) – IMDb 7.3
Jack Davenport and Idris Elba star in this cult vampire thriller where a covert unit investigates bloodsuckers in modern London with clinical precision and moral ambiguity.
Glue (2014) – IMDb 7.3
This rural mystery from Jack Thorne follows teens in Berkshire after a friend’s death, blending class tension, secrets, and slow-burn suspense.
Indian Summers (2015–2016) – IMDb 7.2
Julie Walters stars in this lavish period drama set in 1930s colonial India, exploring power, politics, and forbidden love as the British Empire wanes.
Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama (2022) – IMDb 7.2
This Channel 4 dramatisation of the “Wagatha Christie” libel trial replays courtroom transcripts with deadpan delivery and tabloid absurdity.
Cold Lazarus (1996) – IMDb 7.2
Dennis Potter’s posthumous sci-fi drama imagines a future where a cryogenically preserved brain reveals memories of a lost 20th century, blending dystopia with introspection.
Pleasureland (2003) – IMDb 7.1
This controversial Channel 4 drama follows a 14-year-old girl navigating peer pressure and sexual awakening in Liverpool, part of the Adult at 14 season.
Vanished by the Lake (2015) – IMDb 7.0
This French mystery series follows a detective returning to her hometown to investigate a teenager’s disappearance, echoing a similar case from her past.
Truelove (2023– ) – IMDb 7.0
Lindsay Duncan and Clarke Peters star in this Channel 4 drama about ageing friends who make a pact to control their own deaths, blending dark themes with emotional depth.
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